2_Tampa Bay Buccaneers1

Denver Broncos Gameday HQ

NFC SOUTH
BUCCANEERS
2014 STRENGTHS:
• Big athletic receivers, physical defense
Buccaneers Offense
DON JUAN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES SPORT
There’s nowhere to go but up—and upfield—for a unit that
was dead last in the NFL in total offense and passing and 22nd
in rushing in 2013. That should change with new offensive
coordinator Jeff Tedford. A brilliant strategist, Tedford likely
will start 35-year-old Josh McCown at quarterback and count
on McCown rekindling his relationship with Smith in Chicago
and getting the kind of results he got working with huge WRs
Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Mike Glennon, who Smith
has called “the QB of the future” waits in the wings following a
strong finish to his rookie campaign. Whoever takes the snaps
will have a nice cache of receivers to throw to, all big, strong and
sure-handed. The main target will be All-Pro Vincent Jackson,
who stands 6-5, 230. The Bucs got Jackson a running mate in
2014 first-round pick Mike Evans. The favorite target of Johnny
Manziel at Texas A&M, Evans also stands 6-5, 230 has great
athleticism and an uncanny ability to get free. At 6-5, 262, rookie
tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, drafted after Evans, also can
get down field and could be a nightmare for opposing DBs. The
2014 WEAKNESSES:
• Overhauled offensive line, possible quarterback
controversy, youthful team lacking identity
TAMPA BAY
Bucs are counting on running back Doug Martin to
return to his 2012 rookie form, during which he ran
for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns and added 472
yards and a score on 49 receptions. Martin had a tough
sophomore year, missing all but six games due to a
torn labrum. Mike James and Bobby Rainey will push
Martin. They were solid last season after he went
down. 2014 third-round pick Charles Sims also could
work himself into the mix. Part of the reason for the
inability to run and to pass was the inability of the
offensive line to generate anything. Most of that unit
is gone. The lone holdover is RT Demar Dotson (all 6-9,
315 of him). Tampa hopes LG Carl Nicks stays healthy
and regains his All-Pro form. Veterans Anthony
Collins (LT) and Evan Dietrich-Smith (C) were key free
agent signings, while hopes are high for big (6-4, 313)
rookie guard Kadeem Edwards, selected in the fifth
round (No. 143 overall).
Offensive Player to watch
The 31-year-old wideout gets better with age. Beginning his
10th NFL season, Jackson has had his two best seasons since
coming to Tampa. He’s caught at least 70 passes (150 total) for over
1,200 yards (2,600) and at least seven scores both years (15). In
2013, he caught 78 passes (13th in the NFC, right behind Arizona’s
Larry Fitzgerald) for 1,224 yards (eighth in the conference and
more than double the next Buccaneer) with seven TDs. His 19
catches over 20 yards tied for ninth in the NFL, while his 10
receptions topping 40 yards ranked 10th. He had a hamstring
issue early in training camp, but Jackson has not missed a game
with the Bucs, and has played every game since 2010.
Buccaneers Defense
Tampa Bay’s rushing defense finished 15th in the NFL in
rushing last season—and that was the highlight for the unit.
The group has better talent than that and will show that this
season under new defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. It starts
up front, where the Bucs start with arguably the best line in the
division. They’ll stop the run better this season, as stud tackle
Doug Martin